Friday's tips for the Cheltenham Festival 2018

Day three at the Cheltenham Festival saw Ryanair supremo Michael O’Leary land a superb treble, including a win in his own race, which has eluded him since its inauguration in 2005. We’re sure he’s happy to pay the excess baggage charges for the trophy haul.

The day billed as "St Patrick’s Thursday" was one to remember for the Irish, taking six of the seven contests, and our tipster snuck a profit on the day, topping up funds nicely for the big one.

Today’s highlight is, of course, the feature race of the entire meeting, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which looks to be a really competitive renewal. It’s a wide-open race full of horses with good chances and the heavy ground adds an extra twist, meaning only those with the strongest stamina will be in with a chance when making the gruelling climb up the famous hill for the finish line.

Thankfully, our tipster believes he has the answer, so read on for his picks as he bids to finish the meeting in style. It’s a full house at Cheltenham today and a record crowd will once again be spoilt by a top-class race card, so our recommendation if you’re not there is to find a pub or book an afternoon-long "strategy" meeting in order to enjoy the sport.

The feature race action is live on ITV with full meeting coverage on Racing UK, while leading betting apps will livestream races subject to minimum staking requirements.

Read on for today’s tips from our on-course correspondent reporting from a drier and milder Cheltenham where the going is set to be soft/heavy in places.

And please remember: whether you’re a veteran student of the turf or getting measured up for your first flat cap, gamble sensibly at all times.

Friday betting stats: a bluffer’s guide

Our racing experts have done their homework so you don’t have to. Here are the week’s top stats:

French imports thrive in the Triumph Hurdle, winning five of the last seven.

The County Hurdle is a nightmare for punters, with just one single-figure priced winner in the last eleven years.

Race fitness is vital in the Gold Cup – 14 of the last 15 victors have raced within three months of the contest.

Classy form is also essential, with the last 16 winners all having a Grade One race on their CV prior to today.

The Gold Cup market tends to get it right a lot of the time – 14 of the last 15 winners have occupied a top-three spot in the betting at the off.

The unbeaten Apple’s Shakira (13/8) returns to the course following two very wide-margin victories here last time and she’ll be many punters’ idea of a winner to get things off to a flier on the final day. It’s difficult to oppose her on what she has shown to date. The fact that in-form trainer Gordon Elliot has entered Farclas (13/2) shows what’s expected and he can improve to run into a place.

Twenty-seven runners go to post in this handicap hurdle and nearly every runner has a live chance of victory. Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Chesterfield (18/1) is the first on the each-way shortlist, along with A Hare Breadth (16/1) who has been aimed at this race all season. Bleu et Rouge (10/1) is in form and top weight in the handicap shouldn’t be too much of a burden.

2.50pm Albert Bartlett Hurdle (2 miles 7 furlongs)

A race that often goes to an outsider can be won today by Poetic Rythym (14/1), who appears to have been dismissed by bookmakers despite showing up well this season in top-class soft-ground contests. Calett Mad (16/1) is another well-bred runner who handles soft ground and he rates a fair each-way selection at the prices.

3.30pm Gold Cup (3 miles 2 furlongs)

This year’s Gold Cup is wide open with three horses vying for favouritism at the time of writing. Preference of those at the top of the market is for Native River (5/1), following his third last year. If he’s allowed to dictate the pace at the front, it could be game over as he gallops his rivals into submission. Djakadam (28/1) has plenty of place form in this race and he can show his usual burst of pace up the hill to run past tired horses into a podium finish, while former Grand National fancy Definitely Red (10/1) has proven stamina and will also be a popular pick.

4.10pm Foxhunter Chase (3 miles 2 furlongs)

The amateurs' Gold Cup can go to Virak (14/1) for trainer Paul Nicholls, winner of this contest last year. Foxrock (8/1) looks to be the leading Irish hope, with the experienced Katie Walsh’s jockey booking a real plus. Both hold solid each-way chances.

**4.50pm Martin Pipe Hurdle (2miles 4 furlongs) **

Trainer David Pipe will have laid out Mr Big Shot (16/1) to win this race named in honour of his father, and his unbeaten charge looks to have a strong chance. Veteran Flaxen Flare (50/1) won a race here in 2013 and he could outrun mammoth odds into a place if he shows anything close to his old form.

5.30pm Johnny Henderson Grand Annual (2 miles)

The Festival curtain raiser is a race that often features a last minute gamble as punters try to play up winnings or roll the dice for the last time, and this year’s plunge candidate could end up being the talented yet quirky Bouvreil (12/1) who boasts patchy recent form, meaning he runs from a generous handicap mark. Have a small each-way bet on him and hope today is his day.